Southern Christian Advocate

"SAFE! SAFE! SAFE!"

Such was the exclamation uttered by a shipwrecked American sailor, under deeply-interesting circumstances, in one of the islands of the South Pacific Ocean.

A few years before, he had formed one of a boat's crew which had belonged to a vessel which was wrecked on those very shores. Another boat's crew, belonging to the same vessel, having landed on the island had been killed and devoured by the natives. Their comrades in the other boat kept out to sea when they saw the fate of their companions, and were afterwards picked up by another vessel, and saved.

It happened, in the wonderful providence of God, that the sailor referred to, was wrecked again upon the same island some years after the above event. Consternation and extreme dread seized the survivors from that wreck when they learned from their companion where they were, and what had once befallen his shipmates on those shores. Escape was, however, now impossible, and their only resource appeared to be to hide themselves in the thick woods until an opportunity might offer to escape. Being sorely pressed, however, by hunger, they determined to advance a little into the interior, in the hope of obtaining food.

They were passing through a forest, where the crackling of every branch, and the rustling of the birds, led them to suppose an enemy was at hand at every step, and that their lives would soon be sacrificed. They were toiling up a steep ascent, in the hope that, when they reached the summit, they would be able to see some distance, both over the island and to seaward. The sailor already mentioned was ahead of the rest, and having emerged from the forest, and reached the crowning point of the hill, he was anxiously looking round to see if there was any prospect of deliverance. Suddenly his companions, who were just behind him, were startled by seeing him leaping for joy. and crying out, with clasped hands, "Safe! safe! safe!"

He had indeed seen a sight well calculated to cheer and comfort their hearts. Immediately under where he stood was to be seen the little village church, surrounded by the comfortable abodes of the people.
The Missionary had evidently visited those shores, and God had blessed his labors. The people had become Christians, and of course their former savage and cannibal practices had been given up; so that there was now no cause for fear lest they should be killed and eaten by the natives. The sailor at once saw all this implied in the little church, and the fears of the whole party straightway vanished.

It is scarcely necessary to add that every attention was paid by the Christian islanders to the poor shipwrecked crew, whose wants were supplied by them, and they eventually left the island in an American ship, in peace and safety.

Surely we have here another and a striking instance of the way in which godliness has the "promise of the life that now is," as well as of "that which is to come." Had not the Missionary reached that island, and had not God's word been blessed there, how different would, in all probability, have been the fate of those poor sailors.

Ch. Miss. Juv. Instructor.